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KNOWLEDGE CENTER

Preschool Well Visits: Preparing for Preschool and Beyond

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Well visit services

Preschool well visits are critical for many reasons, from kindergarten readiness to recommended booster vaccines that provide long-term protection.

Vaccines for preschoolers

Seasonal immunizations for preschoolers

Screenings for preschoolers

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Protecting your preschooler with vaccines

Vaccination is one of the safest and most effective ways to protect your child’s health early in life. The immunization schedule recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (APA) is the trusted standard to train your child’s immune system. 


Here are the immunizations recommended for 3 to 5 years:

MMR

What: Protects against measles, mumps, and rubella, highly contagious viral infections spread through respiratory droplets (such as by coughing or sneezing) that can cause severe illness, especially in young children.

How: The recommended booster at 4 years is 97% effective at preventing measles.

Varicella

What: Protects against chickenpox (varicella), a highly contagious virus that causes fever and an itchy rash. While usually mild, varicella can sometimes lead to serious complications, including skin infections, pneumonia, dehydration, and brain inflammation.

How: The recommended booster at 4 years provides full protection.

DTaP

What: Protects against diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough), respiratory infections that can cause severe disease or even death, and tetanus, a bacterial infection caused by contaminated wounds.

How: A series of 5 injections, this fifth dose at 4 years rebuilds protection.

Polio

What: Protects against polio, a virus spread through infected stool or contaminated food or water that can affect the nervous system and cause paralysis.

How: The recommended booster at 4 years provides full protection.

Fewer shots, more protection

Giving vaccines in combination completes the series more quickly and reduces stress for your child. Combination vaccines do not “overload” your child’s immune system.

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Seasonal immunizations for preschoolers

The flu vaccine is recommended for all children 6 months and older, while the COVID-19 vaccine is recommended for children at high risk of severe COVID disease.

Flu shot:

What:

Protects against seasonal influenza (flu), which can lead to serious complications in children with certain chronic health conditions, such as asthma or diabetes.

How:

Flu vaccines are given as an injection (approved for use in children 6 months and older) or as a nasal spray (approved for use in children 2 years and older).

When:

Children should receive a flu vaccine every flu season. September and October are generally good times to get vaccinated, with a goal of vaccination by the end of October whenever possible.

Two doses may be needed

Children between 6 months and 8 years of age may need two doses of flu vaccine if they are getting vaccinated for the first time, have only previously received one dose of flu vaccine, or if their flu vaccination history is unknown. Ask your Pediatric Associates provider for more details.

Screenings for preschoolers

With kindergarten on the horizon, screenings are another important part of preschool well visits.


Here are the screenings recommended for 3 to 5 years:

Developmental

What: A short set of questions we ask all families to understand your child's development, including how they move, communicate, and interact with others.

How: Questionnaire during pre-registration or check-in that takes about 10 minutes.

Why: Preschoolers grow and develop quickly. Your input helps us make sure your child is meeting expected milestones and address any concerns as early as possible.

Social needs

What: A short set of questions we ask all families about things like food, housing, transportation, and safety.

How: Questionnaire during pre-registration or check-in that takes 2-3 minutes.

Why: When we understand your child’s environment, we can better support their growth, behavior, and success at home and at school.

Vision

What: This screening checks your child’s vision and how their eyes are working together.

How: We may ask your child to read an eye chart or use a handheld camera or light to look at your child’s eyes. Both options take just a few minutes and are painless.

Why: Vision problems are not always easy to notice, and early management can make a big difference in your child’s development and learning.

Hearing

What: This screening detects any hearing changes or hearing loss.

How: Your child will be asked to wear a set of headphones and respond to sound.

Why: Early detection of hearing loss allows us to address concerns promptly and support speech, language, and learning development.

No right answers

No right answers

Every child develops differently and every family is unique, so there are no right or wrong answers. This information allows your care team to help you and your child in a way that best meets your needs.

A note about privacy

A note about privacy

All your screening answers are private — we do not report this information to outside agencies. However, we can connect you to helpful resources if you request them.

Ready when you are

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